CRIME PREVENTION
Security Tips
Our 24 hour Finchley locksmiths take crime prevention extremely seriously. Crime prevention is extremely important in Finchley to secure homes and businesses and to deter potential burglaries.
35% of burglaries are opportunist crimes, it is therefore imperative that businesses and homes appear secure through the use of locks, CCTV and good lighting. By having CCTV cameras outside your building you are more likely to deter intruders and footage would subsequently help police should there be an intruder.
It is important to keep your CCTV cameras in good working condition. This involves changing the tapes regularly, ensuring that the picture is clear and that the picture is covering the right area.
Whenever you go out, even if it is only for a short while, it is extremely important to lock windows and doors.
Three out of every ten robberies do not use force to enter a property but they get in through an open window or door. All external doors should have three locks; Mortice locks will make your door even stronger. Window locks can be invaluable in N2, N3 and N12 in stopping people from entering your property. However, ensure that the keys are not left in any windows or doors as it will defeat the purpose of the lock. Do not leave spare keys in the shed or garage as they will be very easy for a burglar to find. Our professional 24 hour locksmiths at Finchley Locksmiths can quickly and reliably change your locks to a high quality finish.
In N2, N3 and N12 it is important to be extra vigilant when living in flats or apartments with a communal entrance. The door should preferably be permanently locked and should only be opened by an audio or audio-visual phone. This ensures that only people who should legitimately be in the building are allowed in. Alternatively, the door should be locked and visitors should be met at the door by residents. Another alternative is that the entrance is continually monitored by a concierge or receptionist. These measures will ensure that unwanted visitors will not enter the property. Items such as bicycles and prams which are kept in communal hallways are particularly at risk.
You are ten times more likely to be burgled if there is no basic security such as good locks or bolts on garden gates, both of which can be provided and installed by Finchley locksmiths. Pruning trees and bushes which provide access or cover to buildings is important to deter burglars. Other precautions you can take in the garden to prevent unwanted guests include laying down gravel for paths and by growing climbing plants on loose trellises around the back of the garden as they are too weak to climb. A barrier of prickly plants is useful to have in your garden, often which will be enough to discourage thieves. Position dustbins away from the house, preferably tied up. This is because many burglars use bins to climb into first floor windows.
Security systems are worth investing in as you are much less likely to be a victim of burglary if you are protected by a security system.
There are several types of burglar alarms; the more common kind is activated as soon as anyone tries to open the door. A more expensive version is activated when its senses any movement around it. This provides a lot more security but also results in more false alarms as homeowners accidently set them off. These false alarms lead people to buy alarms that only go off once you enter the house, leading to more robberies while homeowners are asleep. Some burglar alarms are linked to the local emergency services, these alarms can sense if movement is a false alarm, or if it is suspicious behaviour.
Alternatively, you could buy a dummy system, which will deter opportunist thieves. All emergency systems can be installed by our professional locksmiths at Finchley locksmith.
Protection from the risk of burglary is good for insurance and will also lessen the chance of being robbed. Garages contain not only cars, but also motorbikes, bicycles, as well as power tools and sports equipment they also provide an entrance point and cover for burglars so it is essential that they are locked properly. These locks can be advised and fitted by our locksmiths in N2, N3 and N12. It is very important that all garden tools are stored away securely so they cannot be used in a break in. Wire your garage to your home security system and attach an alarm box to the outside of your garage to ensure that potential intruders know that the garage is protected.
High-quality lights at exits and in dark areas of the property can be enough to deter potential burglars from attempting to access your house or business. However, lights cannot be relied on completely as someone has to notice them and then take action. This is particularly true during daylight hours in which many robberies take place. They can also be activated by some animals. The most common type of security lights are activated by infra-red, they turn on when somebody comes into its field of vision and stay on until the person is no longer present.
Lights can also be useful when you are returning to your property to illuminate shadows in which someone could be lurking.
It is important that while you are away you make your property appear to be occupied by asking a neighbour to collect your post and turn on lights. If a burglar believes that they will be disturbed they will be a lot less likely to attempt to break in. When you are not in for the evening, it is sensible to turn on a downstairs light and draw the curtain to give the impression that somebody is home. If you only leave the hall light on a burglar will realise that there is nobody there. Other factors such as milk bottles or parcels on the doorstep and windows shut during very hot weather are giveaways that there is nobody home.
Never leave a spare key near the front door; it is likely that thieves will know exactly where to look. Also, do not label keys in case they are lost or stolen.
Vehicle crime is largely preventable, never leave valuables in your car and never leave car keys where they can be seen from the front door. 
Likewise, it is advisable to keep valuables out of sight of windows within your home as far as possible. When leaving your car always lock doors and close the windows even if you are only leaving it for a small amount of time. Satellite navigation is very popular with thieves, in order to protect yours, remove it when you leave if it is portable and wipe away marks. Don’t leave the sat-nav in the glove department as thieves will usually check it first. Keep your car keys in a safe place, even in the house so that anyone breaking in won’t steal the vehicle as well.
In order to protect caravans, immobilise them even when stopping only for a small amount of time. Have a tracking device fitted and a reliable alarm system which will help prevent theft and will be able to track it down should it become stolen.
License plate theft is quite common; people may steal them in order to avoid speeding tickets, congestion charge or in order to steal petrol. To ensure licence plates are not stolen from your vehicle, attach it with license plate locking screws. Finchley locksmiths are able to make new number plates if necessary.
Make sure motorbikes are parked in visible, designated motorbike areas and are covered by a motorcycle cover. Have the vehicle marked with its vehicle identification number so that it would be easy to return should it be found. It would also act as a deterrent to thieves.
Over 150,000 bikes are stolen every year, many of which are never recovered. In order to protect it, always lock your bike when you leave it somewhere and do not leave it in an isolated area or unattended. It is also advisable to remove smaller parts which cannot be locked such as quick release saddles, tires and lights when leaving your bike unattended. Marking your bike clearly can be a deterrent to thieves and can also make it easier for police to return it to you.
ID documents such as passports and driving licenses are stolen in 74% of burglaries, it is therefore important to make sure that documentation is stored securely and if possible, separately. This will make it harder for thieves to steal multiple documents relating to the same person. A useful way of securing documents is by keeping them in a safe. Furthermore, when you throw away documents with personal information on them, shred them first in order to prevent people from stealing the information from your bin.
Some thieves in Finchley choose to con their way into your home by distraction, for example by claiming to be from utility companies. Make sure you are certain who they are before you let them in. You can do this by using a spy hole and chain in your door and by asking for proof of identity. Do not keep large quantities of cash at home. The average age of victims of this type of robbery is 81, so it is important to be extra vigilant if you are elderly. Ensure that if you do let someone into your home, you close the door behind them, often distraction burglars will work in pairs and an accomplice will slip through the vulnerable door while you are not aware.